Objective  To investigate the expression of SCG5 in tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC) and its impact on the proliferation, invasion, and migration abilities of TSCC cells.

Methods  The expression of SCG5 in clinical patient samples and its correlation with prognosis were assessed through public databases. Stable SCG5 knockdown and overexpressed TSCC cell models were constructed. Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8), colony formation, Transwell, and wound healing assays were used to evaluate the proliferation, invasion, and migration abilities of TSCC cells. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blot were employed to measure the expression of SCG5 and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related proteins in TSCC cell lines. Gene enrichment analysis was conducted to screen for the target gene CYP450 of SCG5, and gene correlation analysis was performed to further validate their relationship. Subsequently, the expression of CYP450 family genes after SCG5 knockdown was examined by Western blot.

Results  SCG5 was highly expressed in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) tissues and was significantly associated with the poor clinical prognosis. The knockdown of SCG5 expression inhibited the proliferation, invasion, migration, and EMT process of TSCC cells. In contrast, the overexpression of SCG5 enhanced the proliferation and invasion abilities of TSCC cells. Gene enrichment analysis revealed that SCG5 was significantly associated with the CYP450 drug metabolism pathway. Gene correlation analysis showed a negative correlation between CYP4F3 and SCG5 expression. Western blot results demonstrated that CYP450 family genes were upregulated after SCG5 knockdown.

Conclusion  SCG5 is highly expressed in HNSCC tissues and TSCC cells. The downregulation of SCG5 can significantly inhibits the TSCC cell proliferation, invasion, migration, and the EMT process, while the overexpression of SCG5 enhances these malignant behaviors. The interaction between SCG5 and CYP450 may play an important role in the development of TSCC.

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